# Pence paused a speech to help Coast Guard member **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [November 26, 2023, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pence-paused-a-speech-to-help-coast-guard-member/993703 "2023-11-26T00:25:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Digger11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/838e76/32.png) [@Digger11](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digger11)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2023, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pence-paused-a-speech-to-help-coast-guard-member/993703/1 "2023-11-26T00:25:54Z")
I was browsing Youtube and stumbled across this. I never heard anything about it at the time. If you don’t want to watch the whole thing, you can skip to 0:45. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBJmUjSJ7FI](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBJmUjSJ7FI) ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2023, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pence-paused-a-speech-to-help-coast-guard-member/993703/2 "2023-11-26T05:57:50Z")
And this 4 year old video is important now because…. Why exactly? ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2023, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pence-paused-a-speech-to-help-coast-guard-member/993703/3 "2023-11-26T06:11:30Z")
This could be just the break the Pence campaign has been waiting for! ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2023, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pence-paused-a-speech-to-help-coast-guard-member/993703/4 "2023-11-26T07:16:25Z")
Apparently is wasn’t newsworthy even then. That you’d notice, that is. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2023, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pence-paused-a-speech-to-help-coast-guard-member/993703/5 "2023-11-26T13:40:24Z")
A mans actions speaks volumes about their character. I’ve watched how people treat others my entire life. I keep my distance from people that are rude or dismissive of wait staff. I don’t want to hang out with a person that isn’t kind and considerate. I’ve had to work with rude or egotistical people in the office. That’s not a problem. But I’m not actively seeking their friendship outside work. Sadly integrity and decency isn’t always a prerequisite for public office. Pence never had a chance of getting the nomination for President. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2023, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pence-paused-a-speech-to-help-coast-guard-member/993703/6 "2023-11-26T14:24:00Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Sadly integrity and decency isn’t always a prerequisite for public office. Pence never had a chance of getting the nomination for President. I’m confused - are you suggesting that integrity and decency are words applicable to Pence? Or that one instance in which he provided assistance to an individual in distress - or even lifelong habits or outward politeness - describe him more than his decades of hateful policies and enabling of Trump? ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2023, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pence-paused-a-speech-to-help-coast-guard-member/993703/7 "2023-11-26T14:24:11Z")
Pence is not a decent person. He supported and enabled a monster for president. His support probably helped get lots of evangelicals into the cult. His performance in Indiana is also terrible, overseeing a rise in AIDS. He didn’t try to overthrow our democracy – seems like we used to hold politicians to higher standards than, “he’s a hero because he didn’t break the law.” ETA: @Dinsdale and I essentially made the same point! ---
**Author:** ![Digger11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/838e76/32.png) [@Digger11](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digger11)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2023, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pence-paused-a-speech-to-help-coast-guard-member/993703/8 "2023-11-26T14:40:11Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > And this 4 year old video is important now because…. Why exactly? Please show me where I said that it was important. I thought it was interesting, both for the incident itself, and for the lack of contemporary reporting on it. I would appreciate it if you would give me direction on how recent a video or story needs to be, in order to meet the threshold of being “important.” You seem to be triggered by non-current items, and I do not wish to cause unnecessary distress. Also, does this apply to non-American incidents? For example, if the war crimes committed by Japan in WW2 are not recent enough to meet your threshold, I would like to know that in advance of any discussion. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2023, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pence-paused-a-speech-to-help-coast-guard-member/993703/9 "2023-11-26T14:42:12Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > I’m confused - are you suggesting that integrity and decency are words applicable to Pence? I was referring to politicians in general. There’s so many today that are only looking out for themselves and ambitions. Egotism seems to be rampant in politicians. I don’t know Pence beyond his public face. That one act of kindness is notable but it doesn’t mean he’s like that all the time. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2023, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pence-paused-a-speech-to-help-coast-guard-member/993703/10 "2023-11-26T14:48:05Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I don’t know Pence beyond his public face. That one act of kindness is notable but it doesn’t mean he’s like that all the time. - It shows that Pence has a decent side when he doesn’t have a chance to think about it. I hope Mother wasn’t upset that he touched another woman. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2023, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pence-paused-a-speech-to-help-coast-guard-member/993703/11 "2023-11-26T14:58:15Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I was referring to politicians in general. OK. I guess pairing that with the following sentence caused me (and others) to believe you were attributing such attributes to Pence. > [@aceplace57](#): > > That one act of kindness is notable … Do you think many public speakers would just keep nattering away - with cameras rolling - while someone was in visible distress right next to them? I’d like to think that the number of humans who would ignore such a thing is a quite small minority of monsters. And I do not believe I generally err in being overly generous in attributing good will to my fellow humans. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2023, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pence-paused-a-speech-to-help-coast-guard-member/993703/12 "2023-11-26T15:08:03Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > And this 4 year old video is important now because…. Why exactly? As a reminder: don’t lock your knees! ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2023, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pence-paused-a-speech-to-help-coast-guard-member/993703/13 "2023-11-26T15:15:14Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > I’d like to think that the number of humans who would ignore such a thing is a quite small minority of monsters. Even psychopathic monsters would make the calculated decision that it would be expedient to look like they care. At least Pence didn’t seem to hesitate as if making that decision… ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2023, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pence-paused-a-speech-to-help-coast-guard-member/993703/14 "2023-11-26T16:24:22Z")
> [@Digger11](#): > > Please show me where I said that it was important. “Here’s an interesting old video” is a pretty sad start for a thread in P&E. Just my humble opinion. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2023, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pence-paused-a-speech-to-help-coast-guard-member/993703/15 "2023-11-26T16:31:29Z")
Closed on November 26, 2023, 4:31pm UTC I’m closing this thread as it was started by a sock account and is mostly not talking about the OP anyway.